Drosophila neuroligin 1 regulates synaptic growth and function in response to activity and phosphoinositide-3-kinase.

ABSTRACT: Neuroligins are postsynaptic neural cell adhesion molecules that mediate synaptic maturation and function in vertebrates and invertebrates, but their mechanisms of action and regulation are not well understood. At the Drosophila larval neuromuscular junction (NMJ), previous analysis demonstrated a requirement for Drosophila neuroligin 1 (dnlg1) in synaptic growth and maturation. The goal of the present study was to better understand the effects and mechanisms of loss-of-function and overexpression of dnlg1 on synapse size and function, and to identify signaling pathways that control dnlg1 expression. Consistent with reduced synapse size, evoked excitatory junctional currents (EJCs) were diminished in dnlg1 mutants but displayed normal Ca(2+) sensitivity and short-term plasticity. However,

SUBMITTER: Mozer BA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3494790 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature